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Published on: July 31, 2017
Parent and Professional Experiences Supporting African-American Children with Autism
Jamie N Pearson1, Hedda Meadan2, Kayla M Malone3
1Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences, North Carolina State University, 2310 Stinson Drive, Campus Box 7801, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. jnpearso@ncsu.edu.
Insights
African-American children face disparities in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and service access. This study highlights barriers and facilitators perceived by parents and professionals, aiming to improve early identification and support for these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis is reliable by age 2.
- African-American children experience diagnostic and service access delays compared to European-American children.
- Existing research indicates significant disparities in ASD identification and care for minority populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences and perceptions of African-American parents of children with ASD.
- To investigate the perspectives of professionals supporting African-American children with ASD.
- To identify barriers and facilitators impacting early diagnosis and service access for African-American children with ASD.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design.
- Exploration of perceptions and experiences through interviews.
- Inclusion of African-American parents and healthcare/educational professionals.
Main Results:
- Few facilitators for accessing ASD services were identified by participants.
- Parents and professionals perceived similar barriers and facilitators to early diagnosis and service access.
- Disparities in timely diagnosis and service initiation persist for African-American children.
Conclusions:
- Addressing perceived barriers is crucial for equitable ASD care.
- Enhanced collaboration between families, healthcare providers, and educators is needed.
- Interventions should focus on improving early identification and timely access to services for African-American children with ASD.
Abstract:
While the identification of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has stabilized at 1 in 59 children in the USA, and children can now be diagnosed reliably with ASD at 2 years old, African-American children are less likely to be diagnosed with ASD. Once African-American children with ASD are identified, there is a latency between diagnosis and access to services when compared to European American children. In an effort to investigate these disparities, this qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of African-American parents of children with ASD. This study also explored the experiences and perceptions of professionals who support African-American children with ASD and their families. Findings indicate that (a) participants identified few facilitators to service access, and (b) both parents and healthcare providers perceived similar barriers and facilitators to early diagnoses and service access. Implications for parents, healthcare providers, and educators are discussed.
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